t day of the fourteen.

Pray sir, said I, since you embolden me to talk on this important
subject, may I not send my dear father and mother word of my
happiness?--You may, said he; but charge them to keep it secret, till
you or I direct the contrary. And I told you, I would see no more of
your papers; but I meant, I would not without your consent: but if you
will shew them to me (and now I have no other motive for my curiosity,
but the pleasure I take in reading what you write,) I shall acknowledge
it as a favour.

If, sir, said I, you will be pleased to let me write over again one
sheet, I will; though I had relied upon your word, and not written them
for your perusal. What is that? said he: though I cannot consent to it
beforehand: for I more desire to see them, because they are your
true sentiments at the time, and because they were not written for my
perusal. Sir, said I, what I am loath you should see, are very severe
reflections on the letter I received by the gipsy, when I apprehended
your design of the sham-marriage; though there are other things I would
not have you see; but that is the worst. It can't be worse, said he, my
dear sauce-box, than I have seen already; and I will allow your treating
me in ever so black a manner, on that occasion, because it must have a
very black appearance to you.--Well, sir, said I, I think I will obey
you before night. But don't alter a word, said he. I won't, sir, replied
I, since you order it.

While we were talking, Mrs. Jewkes came up, and said Thomas was
returned. O, said my master, let him bring up the papers: for he hoped,
and so did I, that you had sent them by him. But it was a great balk,
when he came up and said, Sir, Mr. Andrews did not care to deliver them;
and would have it, that his daughter was forced to write that letter
to him: and, indeed, sir, said he, the old gentleman took on sadly, and
would have it that his daughter was undone, or else, he said, she would
not have turned back, when on her way, (as I told him she did, said
Thomas,) instead of coming to them. I began to be afraid now that all
would be bad for me again.

Well, Tom, said he, don't mince the matter; tell me, before Mrs.
Andrews, what they said. Why, sir, both he and Goody Andrews, after
they had conferred together upon your letter, madam, came out, weeping
bitterly, that grieved my very heart; and they said, Now all was over
with their poor daughter; and either she had written that letter